James Marshall

After New Jersey native James Marshall immigrated to California in 1844, he was hired by John Sutter to work as a handyman at Sutter's Fort on the Sacramento River. Interested in farming, Marshall bought a ranch in the immediate area on Butte Creek, but he continued in Sutter's employ.

Sutter was interested in expanding his settlement, but he needed lumber for new building construction. In the summer of 1847, Sutter sent Marshall on a quest to locate a timber source. Marshall did not have to travel far; only fortyfive miles away along the South Fork of the American River, he found the perfect spot—a heavily forested area with good stands of trees.

After drawing up plans with Sutter, Marshall returned to the site in September and began construction of a mill. During testing of the newly modified millrace in January 1848, Marshall made...